Applied Statistics for Life Sciences
Statistics plays a crucial role in the sciences: statistical techniques provide a means of weighing quantitative evidence derived from observation and experimentation while accounting for uncertainty. This class aims to provide a hands-on introduction to common statistical methods used almost universally across the sciences and a primer on statistical concepts. Examples from the life sciences emphasize applications with relevance to students’ majors, and students learn to perform simple analyses in R.
Read the [course syllabus] for more information.
Spring break 3/24-3/31. Check back for updates.
Instructor: Trevor Ruiz (he/him) [email]
Learning assistant: Emi Degembe (she/they) [email]
Class meetings:
- Section 03: 2:10pm — 4:00pm TR 005-226
- Section 04: 4:10pm — 6:00pm TR 005-226
Office hours and learning assistant hours:
- [OH] 12:30pm — 2:00pm TR 025-236 [by appointment]
- [LAH] TBD 025-107G
Preparing for class meetings:
- Complete any outstanding problems or other work from prior class meetings; these should be submitted by the start of class.
- Check the course website for posted reading and materials. Readings should be skimmed in advance of class meetings and read in depth after class meetings.
Week 1 (3/31/25)
Tuesday: study design and data semantics
- [reading] Vu and Harrington 1.1 - 1.3
Thursday: descriptive statistics
- [reading] Vu and Harrington 1.4 - 1.5
Week 2 (4/7/25)
Tuesday: point estimation
- [reading] Vu and Harrington 4.1
Thursday: interval estimation
- [reading] Vu and Harrington 3.3.1, 3.3.2, and 3.3.3; and 4.2
Week 3 (4/14/25)
Tuesday: one-sample inference for a population mean
- [reading] Vu and Harrington 4.3.1-4.3.4
Thursday: test 1 review
Week 4 (4/21/25)
Tuesday: two-sample inference for a difference in population means
- [reading] Vu and Harrington 5.3-5.4
Thursday: analysis of variance (ANOVA)
- [reading] Vu and Harrington 5.5.1 & 5.5.2
Week 5 (4/28/25)
Tuesday: post-hoc inference in ANOVA
- [reading] Vu and Harrington 5.5.3 & 5.5.4
Thursday: test 2 review
Week 6 (5/5/25)
Tuesday: test 2
Thursday: nonparametric inference
- [reading] van Belle et al. 8.4 and 8.5 up to 8.5.4
Week 7 (5/12/25)
Tuesday: inference for proportions
- [reading] Vu and Harrington 8.1 & 8.2
Thursday: analysis of contingency tables I
- [reading] Vu and Harrington 8.3 (excluding 8.3.5), 8.5
Week 8 (5/19/25)
Tuesday: analysis of contingency tables II
- [reading] Vu and Harrington 8.3.5, 8.4
Thursday: test 3 review
Week 9 (5/26/25)
Memorial Day observed – no classes Monday and Tuesday follows a Monday schedule.
Tuesday: no class meeting
Thursday: simple linear regression
- [reading] Vu and Harrington 6.1 & 6.2
Week 10 (6/2/24)
Tuesday: inference in regression
- [reading] Vu and Harrington 6.4 & 6.5
Thursday: review for final
Exam info
Scheduled tests:
- Test 1: take home due Friday 4/18/25
- Test 2: in class Tuesday 5/6/25
- Test 3: take home due Friday 5/23/25
- Final: common final Saturday 6/7/25 (time and location TBD)
Study resources: